ASU Baseball falls to IPFW 2-1

Jonesboro (ASU) - Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas State (7-4) managed to load the bases with just one out on the board, but the Red Wolves could not get the tying run home and fell to Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne (1-9) Monday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.

Pinch-hitter Danny Riemenschneider got the inning going for ASU with a single, then moved to second on a one-out base hit from third baseman Jordan Castaldo. Both runners advanced when shortstop Jordan Kimball reached on a bunt single, but IPFW reliever Ryan Jacobsen struck out ASU second baseman Zach Maggio and Mastadon center fielder Kurt Dudley made a diving catch to snare a fly ball from ASU pinch-hitter Ryan Emery to end the game.

Arkansas State out-hit the Mastadons 11-7 on the afternoon, but stranded 10 runners to help IPFW starter Nick Opitz (1-0) pick up the win. Opitz worked eight and one-thirds innings, giving up the one ASU run on 10 hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Jacobsen faced the final three batters to earn the save.

Red Wolves starter Andres Caceres (1-1) took the loss for ASU despite giving up just two runs on five hits in six innings of work. Caceres struck out four batters and walked one. Freshman Daniel Wright worked three innings in relief, giving up no runs on two hits, while striking out one and walking two.

"We gave away four outs on the base paths tonight," said ASU head coach Tommy Raffo. "We did some good things at the plate, we stung some balls but they just didn't happen to fall for us. Our pitchers did an outstanding job of keeping us in the game, we just weren't able to string along some hits and some runs."

Arkansas State led 1-0 after an RBI single in the third from center fielder Michael Faulkner, but the Mastadons tied the game in the fourth when first baseman A.J. Christensen sent a solo home run out over the left field wall. A sacrifice fly from catcher Cory Miller in the sixth drove home what proved to be the winning run for IPFW.

Maggio went 3-for-5, and Faulkner was 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead ASU at the plate.

The Red Wolves will return to action tomorrow afternoon, weather permitting, when they travel to Murray, Ky. for a 2:00 p.m. matchup with the Thoroughbreds of Murray State.